Federal EV policy ‘a plan about a plan’

March 1, 2019

The peak body for the electric vehicle industry has expressed its disappointment at what it sees as the federal government’s underwhelming approach to the electric vehicle revolution, outlined in the new Climate Solutions Fund.

Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari said a lack of clarity in the government’s plan was inadequate for a nation like Australia in 2019.

“A year ago Josh Frydenberg declared, correctly, that electric vehicles represented a disruptive advance on par with the introduction of the iPhone,” Mr Jafari said.

“Since then we have had a full Senate inquiry into electric vehicles, and the industry itself has provided reams of evidence and information to the government.

“Now, on the eve of a federal election, we hear the government committing to nothing more than the creation of a plan about a plan. It’s underwhelming to say the least.

“Australia’s action on electric vehicles needs far more urgency, because our flat-footedness to date has seen us slip several steps behind the world. As things stand we are becoming a dumping ground for the world’s dirtiest vehicles; vehicles that can’t be sold anywhere else.

The Electric Vehicle Council says it will continue to work constructively and cooperatively with government, but it will be emphasising that it already knows the steps that need to be taken.